Former Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk is joining the UAB baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach. Polk retired from Mississippi State in March after completing his 35th season in coaching.

The 64-year-old Polk compiled a 1,373-700-2 record as head coach at Mississippi State, Georgia Southern and Georgia. The majority of that time was spent at Mississippi State, where he was the head coach for 29 seasons. He led his team to five SEC championships, eight College World Series appearances and NCAA Regionals.

UAB head coach Brian Shoop was an assistant coach under Polk at Mississippi State from 1983 to 1989. The Bulldogs won three SEC championships and made a trip to the College World Series during that time.Steve Irvine